Law Schools, Law Students

Networking, Law Student Style

Regardless of the path you choose, make sure you network well.

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networking lawyers and bankersI recently went to a conference.  This isn’t surprising because that’s what law professors do, apart from teaching and complaining about meetings.  However, at this particular conference, as with all the other conferences I’ve attended, I found law students looking very much like attendees at an 8th grade dance, backs flat against the wall.  Worse, it appears that law students move in herds, meaning that they’ll engage in conversation with one another, moving from location to location, without socializing with others in the room.

I’ve observed worse, though.  I’ve observed law students launch into great discussions about how they are desperate for a job, would KILL to work at that attorney’s law firm, and “PLEASE OMG PLEASE GIVE ME A JOB!”  With those conversations, you just can’t look away.  It’s like a train wreck.

Law schools don’t really do enough to teach the gentle art of networking.  Worse, many times students think that they don’t need to do it:  They think, “It’s enough to submit my résumé for the summer intern hunting season, and that’s all the work that I’m required to do to secure a job.”

Networking is vital, in my humble opinion.  And there’s no better time to start than in law school.

My advice is not perfect, nor do I guarantee results.  I can’t control for different levels of conversational agility.  It’s just a place to start for those who haven’t done it or who haven’t mastered it.

  1. For all networking events, bring business cards. I know, you’re thinking that you’re going to pay for those cards and that they will just end up in circular files. That’s true.  But it is the HANDING out of the business card, not the card itself, that conveys a message.  It shows you are prepared.  And, if you can hand it off without looking clumsy or like you’ve never seen one before, you’ll even look polished.  But the most important part of you handing out the business card is that the other person will give you theirs.  You won’t be putting theirs in the circular file.  Instead, you’ll be following up with a nice e-mail the following week.
  1. Do not talk about yourself first, unless asked. Keep in mind that the person with whom you are seeking to network is also seeking to network, only with someone higher up on the networking chain. The way to keep the person interested in chatting with you is to keep the topic on something interesting to that person; namely, him or herself.  This is a good chance to practice some mild deposition skills.  Have they seen any good sessions?  Were they on any panels?  And so on. Eventually, the topic will turn to you.  Patience.

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  1. Make eye contact. Smile. Listen.  Nod.  Engage.  DO NOT LOOK AROUND THE ROOM AT OTHER PEOPLE’S NAMETAGS.  Yes, the person you’re attempting to engage might be doing that, but he or she is in a different boat than you.  I have this really bad habit of looking around the room when talking to people.  It doesn’t serve me well.  It makes me look bored and uninterested.  Granted, in my case I’m not looking to trade up in conversation so much as living my perpetual fear that someone is going to attack me, so I have to be on the lookout.  Regardless, it’s a bad habit.
  1. Don’t linger and don’t be a clinger. In other words, your newfound connection should not be someone you then cling to for the rest of the night. Instead, move on, despite that fear in the pit of your stomach.  After the conversation has run its course, or if you’re interrupted by the person’s friends, shake hands, meet the new folks, and move on.
  1. If you’re at a reception, do not get completely drunk off your keister. I’ve seen this happen and it’s not pretty.  A glass of wine is fine, preferably white so you don’t get red wine lips.  If you don’t drink or don’t want to drink, ask the bartender to put a lime in your drink so it looks like you’re drinking.
  1. What you talk about will be dictated by the situation. Context matters.  While my advice here targets CLE events and conferences, you might meet attorneys everywhere.  Do not try to start up a conversation with an attorney in the restroom, no matter how smooth you think your “how’s it going?” line is.  If the person is checking out sports scores at the bar, feel free to whip out your sports knowledge.  However, under no circumstances should you tell the person that their favorite team sucks, even if they are the first to say so.
  1. Relax and have fun. If you treat networking as a chore, it is much more difficult. Just enjoy the conversation.  I frequently learn more from people in the halls of conferences than I do in the CLE events.  Remember, these connections are people, not just means to your ultimate career goal.  Take the time to get to know them.

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  1. Don’t expect instant results. Just because someone doesn’t help you get a job from the get go doesn’t mean they won’t be important to you later.  One of my very close colleagues turned out to be someone who originally turned me down for a job!  I held that rejection letter over his head, even as I worked closely with him at a different venue.

Of course, I’m expecting that, after I write this, there’ll be some discussion about other means of networking.  Other folks might do it differently.  I don’t consider my way to be the only way to network, it is just one possible path.  Regardless of the path you choose, make sure you network well.

LawProfBlawg is an anonymous professor at a top 100 law school who, this week, practices his satirical skills. You can see more of his musings here and on Twitter. Email him at lawprofblawg@gmail.com.

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